Auckland's port clear of yellow fever mosquito

No further evidence of the yellow fever mosquito has been found at Auckland's port.

Dr Bob Boyd, the Ministry of Health's chief technical officer for biosecurity, said traps and surveillance around the infestation site, at Freyberg Wharf, was clear of the pest.

"We hope it was contained and that will be it," he said.

Larvae and pupae from the disease-carrying mosquito were found in a rubbish skip last weekend and a 400m zone around the area was sprayed with insecticide.

The find followed the discovery of live larvae and a dead adult Asian tiger mosquito at Queen's Wharf last month.

No further sign of that mosquito had been found, Dr Boyd said.

Health officials continue to track the spread of the southern saltmarsh mosquito around the Kaipara Harbour in Northland.

It was discovered in Hawke's Bay in 1998, has since spread to Gisborne and both northern and southern ends of the habour. A survey of the spread of the mosquito and eradication options will be handed to the Government next month.

The yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti, can infect humans with yellow fever, dengue fever, Barmah Forest virus and Ross River virus.

Symptoms of yellow fever include nausea and vomiting, fever, headache and muscle pain. Dengue fever is also known as "break-bone fever" and symptoms include a facial flush, fever, upset stomach and severe restlessness.

Southern saltmarsh mosquito is a potential carrier of Ross River virus which causes fever, tiredness, painful joints and skin rash.